Shipping Canal: Corinth Canal

Closely related to the ancient city of Greece, Corinth Canal serves as a connection channel for two famous gulfs. From northwest to southwest, it connects the Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea and the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. History said that this canal is responsible for turning the Greek Peninsula into an island as it is seen today.

Although it has little significance for the economic sector, the waterway area of Corinth offers a beautiful site with a wide variety of trips and cruises. Its ancient stories are even more interesting to explore.

How It was Constructed: A Brief History

Before connecting two gulfs from two different large seas, Corinth Canal was initially constructed to cross the Isthmus of Corinth in Greece. In fact, the first water passage that leads to the current canal’s construction has been around since 600 BC, as proposed by the tyrant Periander. This ancient waterway system worked many centuries later—some said until the late 9^th century.

A thorough and extensive construction of this canal officially began in modern times. The construction process started in 1882 and finished in 1893 as the canal opened its first cruise. Nevertheless, the canal is still considered one of the oldest man-made waterways. It also plays an important role in building the civilization of modern Greeks. In addition to supporting the country’s economic activities, the canal is more popular as an enchanting tourism site. 

How Corinth Canal Used Today

Corinth Canal is 3.9 miles (6.3 km) long with a water depth of 26 feet (8 meters). Meanwhile, the width along the waterway varies from 69 feet (21 meters) at the minimum to the utmost width of 82 feet (25 meters).

With such quality, the canal is categorized as a narrow waterway. This also makes it too shallow for large seagoing vessels. For that reason, the canal of Corinth is mostly used by smaller boats, tourism cruises, or simply compact yachts. Despite this condition, the canal’s operators still claimed that approximately 15,000 ships from more than 50 different countries and nationalities pass through this waterway every year.

Trips and Cruises

The Corinth Canal has a great influence on the tourism sector in Greece. Along the year, a multitude of trips and cruises are available to book by tourists from across the globe. Most of them offer a cruising experience through several attraction sites on the island as well as its neighboring areas. Among the most popular routes are:

• Piraeus to Dubrovnik
• Venice to Athens
• Piraeus to Civitavecchia
• Palermo to Athens
• Athens to Dubrovnik
• Marseille to Athens

Besides cruises, the canal is surrounded by several points of interest. From the ancient site of Corinth to Loutraki seaside resort, all of them are obviously worth visiting.

With beautiful sites and remarkable attractions, Corinth Canal is listed as one of the best canals in the world that everyone should explore. Indeed, taking a cruise through this waterway is obviously pleasing to the eyes and, in the end, will create an unforgettable experience.